What a time we are living in.  With all that is going on I thought it would be a nice break to look back at 2020 with all its ups and downs as seen from a golf course superintendent's perspective.  So here it is Springfield Golf and Country Clubs 2020 golf course blog-the year in review.

April started out with a bang.  Our tulip display was amazing.

The golf course was pristine coming out of a fairly mild winter.

Azaleas and fresh mulch- Augusta worthy.

Mid to late April was cool and wet but by May 1st the course looked primed for a great season.

The course was happy in May.  Our wildflowers never looked better and changed personality monthly.

June was wetter than normal but the course continued to do well.  One bad lightning storm took out our irrigation computer and was a precursor of things to come.  Nonetheless the course looked exceptionally good on July 10th.  

Newly planted wildflowers on the 7th tee thriving.

From the end of June through July it had become hot and dry.  It was so dry that we were prepared to buy water.  We experienced twenty consecutive days of ninety degrees and higher from June 26-July 15 followed by a one day break before the heat really turned up. 

The course finally received needed rain on July 20th.  The course is in very good condition at this time but anymore rain could be problematic with the high temperatures we experienced.  Unfortunately we all know what happened.

Lightning damage to an oak by 13 green and another irrigation computer fried following the next day's storm.

The third fairway on July 23rd with the turf in critical condition and some of the hottest weather of the summer occurring.

Once the rain started it didn't let up along with the heat.  July had 28 days of ninety degrees and higher setting a record for the month.  Night time temperatures did not go below seventy degrees for over fifty days breaking another record.  Our bent fairways didn't stand a chance.

The damage is done.

Once it started raining it didn't let up.  We even endured a hurricane.  Rainfall totaled 16 inches from July 20th to August 31st.

Throughout this the greens and rough performed amazingly well.

What a contrast!

The weather pattern finally showed signs of breaking and we began renovating the fairways.

A perfect seedbed and turning on the water which was weird.

One more heartbreak before we become heroes.  A surprise one inch gully washer that afternoon that almost ruined all that work.

By September 3rd we are in the driver's seat.  The weather pattern has changed and we are growing grass.

By September 8th the course has just abut recovered with a rescheduled Member Guest in our sight.

 A  smoke filtered sun from the western wildfires reminding us we were pretty fortunate this year.

By the end of September the course was in great shape.

What a great fall we had.

A tough summer but fortunate to work on fixing the course's shortcomings.

Drainage, drainage, you just can't have enough drainage.

2020- Gone but never forgotten.